Nyceryx nictitans
Encyclopedia
Nyceryx nictitans is a moth
of the Sphingidae
family. It is found from Brazil
to Argentina
and in Peru
and Bolivia
.
It can be distinguished from other Nyceryx
species by the hindwing upperside, which has an orange base, a dark brown marginal band of even width and the lack of semitransparent spots. There are two or three thin, black, but distinct lines on the underside of the abdomen.
Adults are probably on wing year round.
The larvae have been recorded feeding on Aspidosperma macrocarpa.
Moth
A moth is an insect closely related to the butterfly, both being of the order Lepidoptera. Moths form the majority of this order; there are thought to be 150,000 to 250,000 different species of moth , with thousands of species yet to be described...
of the Sphingidae
Sphingidae
Sphingidae is a family of moths , commonly known as hawk moths, sphinx moths and hornworms, that includes about 1,200 species . It is best represented in the tropics but there are species in every region . They are moderate to large in size and are distinguished among moths for their rapid,...
family. It is found from Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
to Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
and in Peru
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
and Bolivia
Bolivia
Bolivia officially known as Plurinational State of Bolivia , is a landlocked country in central South America. It is the poorest country in South America...
.
It can be distinguished from other Nyceryx
Nyceryx
Nyceryx is a genus of moths in the Sphingidae family.-Species:*Nyceryx alophus - *Nyceryx brevis - Becker, 2001*Nyceryx coffaeae - *Nyceryx continua - *Nyceryx draudti - Gehlen 1926...
species by the hindwing upperside, which has an orange base, a dark brown marginal band of even width and the lack of semitransparent spots. There are two or three thin, black, but distinct lines on the underside of the abdomen.
Adults are probably on wing year round.
The larvae have been recorded feeding on Aspidosperma macrocarpa.
Subspecies
- Nyceryx nictitans nictitans (Brazil to Argentina)
- Nyceryx nictitans saturata Rothschild & Jordan, 1903 (Peru and Bolivia)